A Spectator's Notebook
MR. MALENKOV'S visit has no doubt been a great success from the Russian point of view. Millions of readers of the popular press made the astounding discovery that a Communist boss can chuck a child under the chin as charmingly as any Con- servative candidate. So we must expect public opinion to be well softened for Messrs. Bulganin and Khrushchev when they come bearing attractive gifts. My own reactions are more prag- matical. Since Mr. Malenkov is an expert on electrical power stations, since he cannot be wholly easy in his mind about what Mr. Khrushchev is up to in his absence, and since we badly need somebody who can talk to the ETU's boss, Mr. Foulkes, in his own language, could not Mr. Malenkov be persuaded to stay on here and take over the job which Mr. Randall, that free-speaking colleague of Lord Citrine is vacating? The thought of Mr. Malenkov speaking to Mr. Foulkes in his own language reminds me of the enjoyable rumour that somebody was going to interview him on the BBC—in Latin. This had its origin in a reception in Berlin at which Mr. Malenkov and a correspondent were heard. to converse in Latin, but now the truth is out : apparently they were merely exchanging quota- tions. I wonder whether he exchanged any with our hard- pressed Prime Minister when he had his talk with him. 'Capax imperil ' Mr. Malenkov began. 'Multo tutius est stare in subiectione,' Sir Anthony interrupted in rueful agreement, 'quam in praeletura I' (But this was off the record.)
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